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We are living
in a world where temperatures are rising, water shortages are more frequent,
food supplies are increasingly scarce and the gap between rich and poor is
increasing. Populations are growing fast, making basic hygiene and sanitation
even more of a challenge. We can overcome these challenges and build a bright
future for everyone, if we work together. But to do this, the world needs a
plan.

Against
this backdrop, Unilever launches the ‘Unilever Young Entrepreneurs Awards for
2017’, in partnership with The University of Cambridge Institute for
Sustainability Leadership (CISL) and, in collaboration with Ashoka to support,
inspire, reward and collaborate with a new generation of the world’s most
brilliant young change makers; innovators who are the future of sustainability.
These Awards are all about supporting and celebrating inspirational young
people from all over the world with existing initiatives, products or services
that are tackling some of the planet’s biggest sustainability challenges.
These
Awards recognise 18 to 35 year olds who are putting ideas into action.

Gender
in Agribusiness Investments for Africa (GAIA) invites applications from institutions and business enterprises with ideas and
innovations that could transform agriculture and agribusiness in West or North
Africa and will benefit wider groups including marginalized women small holder
farmers and other women value chain actors. GAIA is looking for institutions
and business enterprises with innovations spanning the research to commercialization
continuum, and those addressing business model re-invention.

GAIA
has been launched by African
Women in Agricultural Research and Development (AWARD) to increase
agribusiness investments in technological and business model innovations that
help bridge the gender gap in African agriculture and particularly those that
enhance the positive participation of African women in agricultural value
chains across the continent.

The best way to start or expand a business venture is to plan it. Business plan is a written document that describes and analyzes your business venture and gives detailed projections about its future. A business plan also covers the financial aspects of starting or expanding your business, how much money you need and how you will pay it back. Business plan not only help you get money from lenders or investors but help you make a strategic decision about your business venture. Business plan then becomes an imperative for every business venture that wants to grow big.

Business plan writing is generally seen as a difficult task which takes a lot of time to complete. When it comes to financial plan section of a business plan it is usually a no-go area for some entrepreneurs simply because they don’t understand simple accounting terms or have no prior knowledge in financial accounting. Entrepreneurs with prior knowledge in financial accounting or business plan writing don’t want to write business plan themselves because it takes much of their time especially when using the crude method or approach they were trained with. Even, when they try to write it themselves, there are bound to be mathematical errors in their calculation. Also, well calculated financials are not professionally arranged and presented.

Nigeria
ranks as the second highest producer of tomatoes in Africa. N11.7 billion is spent annually to import processed
tomato paste into the country while over 200,000 farmers in Nigeria, whom collectively
grow over 1 .5 million metric tonnes of tomatoes every year, currently grow
this vegetable crop.

In a bid
to deepen the techniques of tomato processing and setting up of small scale tomato
processing and packaging venture. The Bank Of Industry Limited is organising a
technical training on tomato processing & packaging workshop for Nigerian
youths scheduled to hold in Kano and Lagos respectively.

The objective of the workshop is to commercialize the knowledge and techniques of tomato processing gathered over the years through research and practical application

The
Federal Government of Nigeria received a loan from the International Fund for
Agricultural Development (IFAD) towards the cost of the Value Chain Development
Programme (VCDP), and intends to apply part of the proceed towards procurement
of goods , works and services. The VCDPIs a six years Intervention programme
presently being implemented in six states of Anambra, Benue, Ebonyi, Ogun,
Niger and Taraba and three Local Government Areas each in all the States while
two more Local government Areas are expected to join in the programme implementation
based on performance.

The
programme has the following components: (a) Agricultural Market Development
which Includes (Support to value addition and market linkages, Support to Infrastructure)
(b) Small Holders Production Enhancement which includes [Support to farmers
organization, Support to small holders production] and (c) Programme Management
and Coordination.

The
VCDP States Programme Management Units (SPMUs) Intend to expand/update their
respective data base of service providers on the above mentioned Areas.
Eligible Individual consultants, consulting and contracting firms are invited
to indicate interest in working for the programme.

Eligible
individuals/firms are invited to indicate interest as service providers in any
of the following State Value Chain Development Programmes (i) Anambra (ii)
Benue (iii) Ebonyi (iv) Niger (v) Ogun and (vi) Taraba

2.0 Programme Objective and Target

The
Programmes objective is that the incomes and food security of poor rural households
engaged in production, processing and marketing of rice and cassava in the
Programme Area are enhanced on a sustainable basis.

Olam Prize is inviting applications from innovative research
projects in Plant science, Soil science, Nutritional science, Agricultural
sciences or other field of scientific research impacting food security, focused
on any part of agricultural supply chain. The winning research project will
receive US$50,000 unrestricted funding to support its further development.

Olam Prize for Innovation in Food Security was
launched in partnership with international scientific organisation, Agropolis Fondation in 2014. The Olam Prize aims to advance knowledge and recognize
innovation in world food security, by rewarding an outstanding research project
for its potential impact on the availability, affordability, accessibility or
adequacy of food. The innovative research should be essential to meet the UN’s Sustainable
Development Goal #2: End hunger, Achieve food security and Improved nutrition,
and Promote sustainable agriculture.

Nigeria Senate President, Bukola Saraki kick-starts
the launch of Made-in-Nigeria Challenge on January 1, 2017 to promote products
using at least 70% raw materials sourced locally. This programme is organised
to encourage entrepreneurs to start using local content and promote buying of
the local products among Nigerians. The programme will support entrepreneurs in
form of enabling environment, finance and patronage.

According to the initiator Bukola Saraki, ‘Made-in-Nigeria
challenge is to create Legislative instruments that encourages local
manufacturers by getting information to ensure ease of doing business. We have
received hundreds of Made-in-Nigeria videos on Agriculture value chain, Tech
start-up, Boats and Ferries, Leather & Textile etc. Revitalizing value
chain of Made-in-Nigeria goods is key. It will create white/blue/pink collar
jobs in the agro sector and stimulate the economy’.

West
Africa Forum for Clean Energy Financing, WAFCEF, invites West Africa’s entrepreneurs,
start-ups and existing companies with promising clean energy projects
(renewable energy resources and energy efficiency) to participate in a business
plan competition and stand a chance to receive an initial capital investment in
excess of$1,000,000 from Investors. Shortlisted projects will attend a
project development and financing workshop and will receive free individual
professional mentoring to further develop their business plans, develop
convincing investment pitches, and formulate a commercially, financially,
socially and environmentally viable growth strategy that in turn will
significantly enhance the possibility of obtaining financing. During the final
event that will take place next year, up to ten winners will present their
business plans to investors, industry specialists and business executives
interested in funding clean energy. These private sector judges select the top
three projects to receive West African Clean Energy Financing awards.

It is glaring so far that many people are yet to get a perfect glimpse of what Greenhouse farming is all about. Some even say greenhouse is just ordinary net house. There is now a mixed up among Greenhouse, Net house, Shade house and Polytunnel.

Well... I understand that greenhouse is an emerging technology in Nigeria and other Tropical regions.

Facts You Should Know About Greenhouse Farming

1. Greenhouse is a protected structure designed to grow high valued vegetables and crops such as Tomatoes, Capsicum, Cucumber, etc
2. Greenhouse farming has levels ranging from High tech, Medium Cost to Low Cost Greenhouse
3. Yield from greenhouse farming is 2-10 times higher than open field
4. Low cost greenhouse farming is possible using locally available materials
5. Not all greenhouse materials can be replaced with our local materials
6. Greenhouse agronomy is technically different from open field. Greenhouse needs the right specifications for different environment to get optimum result etc.
7. Greenhouse is a sure guarantee for off season production
8. Greenhouse produces have longer shelf life and better quality
9. Greenhouse produces are for target market like Urban, Peri-urban, Export, Supermarkets, Veggies Stores etc. and the demand is huge
10. Greenhouse technology is not for Conservatives
11. In greenhouse farming, the input of GH Construction workers, GH Growers, Agronomists & GH Technical Experts are very germane for success

TAG funds will be awarded to eligible individuals
and enterprises through a competitive grant process. Successful applicants can
receive up to a maximum N1,100,000.00
(One Million, One Hundred Thousand Naira Only). The TAG fund is financed by UK
Department for International Development (DFID) and managed by Market
Development in the Niger Delta Programme (MADE).

TAG Fund Windows

1. Improving access to affordable improved fish
smoking kiln (50-250kg). Access to new kilns will increase health benefits,
safety from fire hazards, smoking efficiency, smoking capacity and reduce fuel
costs. These will reduce wastage of unprocessed fish and increase incomes for
the smokers. Improved fish smoking capacity will increase fish smokers incomes
and profitability by reducing on-shore post-harvest losses. Savings will be
made from reduction in expenditure on maintenance / reconstruction of housing
units and of the old traditional smoking. Depending on the cost the equipment, the
beneficiary equity contribution to MADE cost share is 50:50 and the funding
ranges from N250,000.00 – N1,100,000.00

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About Author

Ayodele Farinde is an Extensionist, Analyst, Agribusiness Planning and Development Officer. He is a seasoned and experienced Agropreneur in Crops, Vegetables and Animal Production. He has developed Standard and Viable Business Plan/Proposal for many Start-ups and Existing SMEs in Nigeria and other African Countries. He has equally provided mentorship for startups and SMEs. Farinde is well versed in Greenhouse Farming, Agri-Project Management, Product Development, Value chain Analysis, Market Research and Data analysis. He bagged B.Agric. from Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Ogun state, Nigeria. He also had professional training in Entrepreneurship, Agribusiness and Leadership. He's passionate about Sustainable Youth and Agricultural development. He has piloted several agri-projects. Our youths are potent forces capable of bringing about long lasting change in every sectors of the economy. Modern Agribusiness is an important sector which can sustainably develop nations' economy. Hence, there is need to incorporate our youths into this system. Agriculture has a large capacity to absorb our teeming unemployed youths. We need to revolutionize Agribusiness through youths.